Montgomery, Ala. – The National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) Chapter at Faulkner University has been awarded Gold Chapter Honors for attaining a distinguished level of achievement in the areas of member recruitment and engagement, community outreach and service, legislative advocacy and fundraising during the 2022-23 academic year. The announcement was made today by the parent organization, National NSSLHA, whose members are studying communication sciences and disorders (CSD), speech-language pathology (SLP) and audiology at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels at college and universities nationwide.
“The graduate Speech Language Pathology (SLP) program is fully accredited. We have passed with one of the highest scores on our accreditation given to a program,” Faulkner University President Mitch Henry said. “Our speech students and professors have provided around 23,000 free clinical visits to disabled children, adults, and others in need over the past few years.”
“We are so proud of the 2022-23 Gold Chapter Honors awardees, and we congratulate them on all they’ve achieved this year,” said NSSLHA Executive Council President Gabrielle Howard. “Each chapter demonstrated a deep commitment to its members, its community, and the professions, and embodied NSSLHA’s values in the areas of collaboration, diversity, education, integrity, leadership and service,” she said.
Through its annual honors program, NSSLHA recognizes outstanding affiliated chapters that have made significant contributions to CSD programs, the national organization and their local chapters. Chapter Honors are awarded at the bronze, silver and gold levels.
“Stephanie Collum, Assistant Professor for SLP does a fantastic job leading Faulkner’s NSSLHA (National Student Speech Language Hearing Association) chapter. We are excited to share our chapter earned Gold Chapter Honors for the second year in a row,” said Amy Hatcher, MCD, CCC-SLP, Clinic Director of Faulkner’s SLP Program.
Faulkner’s NSSLHA Chapter is one of only 93 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico to receive Gold Chapter Honors in 2023.
Efforts made by the NSSLHA Chapter at Faulkner University helped National NSSLHA:
- Increase awareness of communication sciences and disorders (CSD) on more than 140 local college campuses and communities across the country as well as through virtual platforms;
- Increase advocacy efforts by sending more than 5,400 letters to state and federal legislators;
- Provide scholarships to students in CSD programs by contributing more than $22,500 to the ASHFoundation’s NSSLHA Scholarship;
- Support CSD-related organizations by donating $60,000 and more than 25,000 hours of chapter members’ time.
About NSSLHA
The National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) is the only national student organization for pre-professionals studying communication sciences and disorders (CSD) recognized by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Established in 1972, National NSSLHA is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, and supports nearly 11,000 members and more than 350 chapters at colleges and universities nationwide.